The recent shooting at a public hospital underscores the rampant gang violence plaguing Haiti, where a significant portion of the capital remains under gang control and a government-led recovery seems increasingly out of reach.
Haiti Hospital Shooting Leaves Three Dead amid Ongoing Gang Violence
Haiti Hospital Shooting Leaves Three Dead amid Ongoing Gang Violence
Attack during hospital reopening briefing highlights the deteriorating security situation in Haiti.
On Tuesday, a horrific shooting at the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, claimed the lives of at least three individuals, including two journalists and a police officer. The attack took place as medical staff, police, and reporters gathered for a briefing to celebrate the reopening of the hospital, the largest public medical facility in the country, which had been previously occupied and damaged by violent gangs.
Eyewitness accounts and images shared on social media revealed the shocking aftermath, showing injured individuals and fatalities within the hospital premises. The shooting erupted just before the health minister was scheduled to arrive, resulting in panic among attendees and leading to a swift condemnation from Haiti's transitional presidential council, which promised justice for the victims and their families.
The context of this violence highlights the ongoing crisis in Haiti, where gang warfare has surged since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Despite the establishment of a new transitional government and the deployment of an international force, notably led by Kenyan police, the situation remains dire. Currently, an estimated 85% of Port-au-Prince is under the influence of gang factions, and the UN reports that approximately 5,000 people have died from gang-related violence in 2023 alone, as the nation teeters on the edge of collapse.
Eyewitness accounts and images shared on social media revealed the shocking aftermath, showing injured individuals and fatalities within the hospital premises. The shooting erupted just before the health minister was scheduled to arrive, resulting in panic among attendees and leading to a swift condemnation from Haiti's transitional presidential council, which promised justice for the victims and their families.
The context of this violence highlights the ongoing crisis in Haiti, where gang warfare has surged since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Despite the establishment of a new transitional government and the deployment of an international force, notably led by Kenyan police, the situation remains dire. Currently, an estimated 85% of Port-au-Prince is under the influence of gang factions, and the UN reports that approximately 5,000 people have died from gang-related violence in 2023 alone, as the nation teeters on the edge of collapse.
